Puncture needle cartridge

ABSTRACT

A puncture needle cartridge including a puncture needle, a lancet body adapted to cover part or all of a tip of the puncture needle, a cylindrical puncture needle holder disposed on an outer surface of the lancet body to permit the lancet body to move in an axial direction of the puncture needle; and a protective cap that is separable from the puncture needle holder. The protective cap includes a base adapted to cover an opening in the puncture needle holder, a shaft protruding from the base, and arms mounted on the shaft and configured to abut an inner circumferential surface of the opening in the puncture needle holder by spreading in the opening. A space between tips of the arms is larger than an inside diameter of the opening in the puncture needle holder, and is reduced by elastic deformation when the arms are housed in the opening.

This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 13/122,830, now U.S. Pat.No. 8,506,587, which is the national stage of International ApplicationNo. PCT/JP2009/005300 filed Oct. 9, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

I. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a puncture needle cartridge for apuncture device used to take blood for blood measurements such as bloodsugar measurements.

II. Description of the Related Art

Various puncture devices used to take blood as well as disposablelancets used therewith have been developed conventionally. With such apuncture device, there is a danger that a user may accidentally prickhis/her finger on a puncture needle exposed from one end of the lancetwhen mounting and dismounting the lancet to/from the puncture device. Inview of the above problem, puncture needle cartridges have beendeveloped which comprise a cap adapted to enclose the puncture needle,eliminate the danger of touching the puncture needle directly, and allowthe lancet to be attached and detached to/from the puncture device (see,for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-245717 and InternationalPublication No. WO 2006/118224).

Such a puncture needle cartridge comprises a lancet body and aprotective cap separable from the lancet body, where the lancet bodycomprises a puncture needle on one end and a chucking unit on the otherend. The chucking unit is used to chuck the puncture needle cartridge tothe puncture device. Each puncture needle cartridge is attached to thepuncture device for use and detached after use. Before puncture,protective cap is twisted off from the lancet body.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Such a conventional puncture needle cartridge is used for puncture aftertwisting off the protective cap from the lancet body. However if thepuncture needle cartridge is recapped with the protective cap (theprotective cap is returned to the puncture needle cartridge) afterpuncture or disposal, it is difficult to determine whether the punctureneedle cartridge is a used item or an unused item. Consequently, thereis a possibility that a used needle will be reused by mistake. If a usedneedle is reused by mistake, there is a problem, i.e., there is a dangerof infection accidents.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problem and hasan object to provide a puncture needle cartridge which can prevent aused lancet from being reused due to difficulty to determine whether apuncture needle cartridge is a used item or an unused item if recappedwith a protective cap after puncture.

A puncture needle cartridge according to the present inventioncomprises: a puncture needle adapted to puncture skin; a lancet bodyadapted to cover and protect part or all of a tip of the punctureneedle; a puncture needle holder configured to be cylindrical, placed onan outer circumferential surface of the lancet body so as to allow thelancet body to move in an axial direction of the puncture needle, andprovided with an opening through which the puncture needle is allowed toprotrude; and a protective cap adapted to cover and protect the openingand configured to be separable from the puncture needle holder, whereinthe protective cap comprises a base adapted to cover the opening whenthe protective cap is joined to the puncture needle holder and a pair ofraised walls which protrude from the base toward the puncture needleholder and whose tip portions are placed facing each other, the tipportions of the raised walls pinch the puncture needle holder when theprotective cap is joined to the puncture needle holder, and after theprotective cap is separated from the puncture needle holder, a spacebetween the tip portions of the raised walls becomes smaller than anoutside diameter of the puncture needle holder.

A puncture needle cartridge according to the present inventioncomprises: a puncture needle adapted to puncture skin; a lancet bodyadapted to cover and protect part or all of a tip of the punctureneedle; a puncture needle holder configured to be cylindrical, placed onan outer circumferential surface of the lancet body so as to allow thelancet body to move in an axial direction of the puncture needle, andprovided with an opening through which the puncture needle is allowed toprotrude; and a protective cap adapted to cover and protect the openingand configured to be separable from the puncture needle holder, whereinthe protective cap comprises a base adapted to cover the opening whenthe protective cap is joined to the puncture needle holder, a shaftprotruding from the base toward the opening, and arms mounted on theshaft and adapted to abut an inner circumferential surface of theopening in the puncture needle holder by spreading in the opening, andspace between tips of the arms is larger than an inside diameter of theopening in the puncture needle holder, and is reduced by elasticdeformation when the arms are housed in the opening.

A puncture needle cartridge according to the present inventioncomprises: a puncture needle adapted to puncture skin; a lancet bodyadapted to cover and protect part or all of a tip of the punctureneedle; a puncture needle holder configured to be cylindrical, placed onan outer circumferential surface of the lancet body so as to allow thelancet body to move in an axial direction of the puncture needle, andprovided with an opening through which the puncture needle is allowed toprotrude; and a protective cap adapted to cover and protect the openingand configured to be separable from the puncture needle holder, whereinthe puncture needle holder comprises a first engaging part formed on aninner circumferential surface of the opening, the protective capcomprises a base adapted to cover the opening when joined, a shaftprotruding from the base toward the opening, and a second engaging partformed on an outer circumferential surface of the shaft and adapted toengage with the first engaging part, and the first engaging part and thesecond engaging part separably engage with each other by elasticdeformation in response to an action tending to separate the protectivecap from the lancet body and comprise respective jagged surfaces adaptedto disable engagement in response to a recapping action tending toattach the protective cap to the lancet body.

A puncture device according to the present invention is adapted topuncture skin using a needle and comprises a puncture button used topuncture the skin with a needle, wherein any of the above-describedpuncture needle cartridges according to the present invention providedwith a recapping prevention function is detachably attached to thepuncture device, and the puncture device punctures the skin using theattached puncture needle cartridge when the puncture button is pressed.

According to the present invention, the inclined portions of theprotective cap prevent recapping by engaging with an end portion of thepuncture needle holder, making it possible to prevent a used lancet frombeing reused due to difficulty to determine whether a puncture needlecartridge is a used item or an unused item if recapped with a protectivecap after puncture. Therefore, this prevents a patient from recappingthe puncture needle cartridge which has been used for puncture with theprotective cap and thereby prevents infection accidents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of apuncture needle cartridge according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a lancet alone of the puncture needlecartridge according to the first embodiment before separation of aprotective cap.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a puncture needle holder of the punctureneedle cartridge according to the first embodiment when viewed obliquelyfrom the front.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the puncture needle holder of thepuncture needle cartridge according to the first embodiment when viewedobliquely from the rear.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the state where the puncture needlecartridge according to the first embodiment has been attached to apuncture device.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the state where the protective caphas been separated from the puncture needle cartridge according to thefirst embodiment attached to the puncture device.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the state where the puncture needlecartridge according to the first embodiment is disposed of after beingused for puncture by being attached to the puncture device.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a recapping prevention operation of thepuncture needle cartridge according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the recapping prevention operation ofthe puncture needle cartridge according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the recapping prevention operation ofthe puncture needle cartridge according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the recapping prevention operation ofthe puncture needle cartridge according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of apuncture needle cartridge according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a lancet alone of the puncture needlecartridge according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing how a protective cap and bosses have beenseparated from a lancet body of the puncture needle cartridge accordingto the second embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a recapping prevention operation ofthe puncture needle cartridge according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating the recapping prevention operation ofthe puncture needle cartridge according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a punctureneedle cartridge according to a third embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing how a protective cap has beenseparated from the puncture needle cartridge according to the thirdembodiment.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing the state where the puncture needlecartridge according to the third embodiment is about to be recapped withthe protective cap for the puncture needle cartridge.

FIG. 20 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a punctureneedle cartridge according to a fourth embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing how a protective cap has beenseparated from the puncture needle cartridge according to the fourthembodiment.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing the state where the punctureneedle cartridge according to the fourth embodiment is about to berecapped with the protective cap for the puncture needle cartridge.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail belowwith reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment)

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of apuncture needle cartridge according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a puncture needle cartridge 101 comprises a punctureneedle holder 102 cylindrical in shape and a lancet 105 equipped with aprotective cap 103 adapted to protect a puncture needle (not shown)installed on one end.

The lancet 105 comprises a lancet body 104 and the protective cap 103adapted to cover a puncture needle in the lancet body 104. The lancet105 is housed in a bore 106 of the cylindrical puncture needle holder102.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the lancet 105 before separation of theprotective cap 103.

In FIG. 2, the lancet 105 comprises the lancet body 104 comprising apuncture needle 201, and the protective cap 103 adapted to protect thepuncture needle 201.

The lancet body 104 and protective cap 103 are integrally formed of anelastic material such as polyethylene or other resin, and a tear-offportion 202 is provided therebetween to allow the protective cap 103 tobe separated from the lancet body 104. Before use, the protective cap103 is separated from the lancet body 104 at the tear-off portion 202,and one end of the contained puncture needle 201 is exposed from thelancet body 104. The protective cap 103 comprises raised walls 203, eachof which has a claw 204 installed on the inner side of the raised walls203. An inclined portion 203 a which is inclined inward is installed ina tip portion of the raised wall 203 to prevent recapping. Also, thelancet body 104 has ribs 205 on side faces.

In this way, the puncture needle cartridge 101 comprises the punctureneedle 201 adapted to puncture the skin, the lancet body 104 adapted tocover and protect part or all of a tip of the puncture needle 201, thepuncture needle holder 102 configured to be cylindrical, placed on anouter circumferential surface of the lancet body 104 so as to allow thelancet body 104 to move in an axial direction of the puncture needle201, and provided with an opening 102 a (see FIG. 4 described later)through which the puncture needle 201 is allowed to protrude, and theprotective cap 103 adapted to cover and protect the opening 102 a (seeFIG. 4) and configured to be separable from the puncture needle holder102.

The protective cap 103 comprises a base 103 a (see FIG. 1) adapted tocover the opening 102 a (see FIG. 4) when the protective cap 103 isjoined and a pair of the raised walls 203 which protrude from the base103 a toward the puncture needle holder 102 and whose tip portions areplaced facing each other.

The inclined portions 203 a located at the tips of the raised walls 203and inclined inward (inclined toward the axis of the protective cap 103)pinch the puncture needle holder 102 when the protective cap 103 isjoined to the puncture needle holder 102, and when the protective cap103 is separated from the puncture needle holder 102, a space betweenthe tips of the inclined portions 203 a becomes smaller than the outsidediameter of the puncture needle holder 102.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are external views of the puncture needle holder 102,which is viewed obliquely from the front in FIG. 3, and obliquely fromthe rear in FIG. 4.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, the puncture needle holder 102 has a flange 206, whichis engaged with the claws 204 inside the raised walls 203 of theprotective cap 103.

A slope 207 is formed in the flange 206 to provide a guide portion.Furthermore, a cross slot 208 is formed in the puncture needle holder102. The ribs 205 installed on the lancet body 104 are designed to fitin the cross slot 208, establishing relative axial position between thepuncture needle holder 102 and the lancet 105 and thereby definingmutual position in an initial state. The flange 206 is positioned so asto engage with the claws 204 of the protective cap 103 in the initialstate. Also, a recess 209 is provided so that the flange 206 will bedisengaged from the claws 204 inside the raised walls 203 of theprotective cap 103 when the protective cap 103 rotates a predeterminedamount around an axis of the lancet body 104.

Next, regarding the puncture needle cartridge 101 configured asdescribed above, a process from its installation on a puncture device301 to its disposal will be described.

FIGS. 5 to 7 are perspective views showing installation, separation, anddisposal of the puncture needle cartridge 101, respectively, withrespect to the puncture device 301.

FIG. 5 shows the state where the puncture needle cartridge 101 has beenattached to the puncture device 301.

By rotating the protective cap 103 around an axis of the puncture device301 as indicated by a arrow in FIG. 5, the protective cap 103 can beseparated from the lancet body 104 at the tear-off portion 202 (FIG. 2).

FIG. 6 shows the state where the protective cap 103 of the punctureneedle cartridge 101 has been separated at the tear-off portion 202 (seeFIG. 2) after the puncture needle cartridge 101 is attached to thepuncture device 301. Consequently, part of the puncture needle 201 (seeFIG. 2) which has been covered by the protective cap 103 is exposed fromthe lancet body 104, allowing the puncture device 301 to puncture theskin.

In this case, although exposed from the lancet body 104 of the lancet105, the puncture needle 201 is kept behind an end of the punctureneedle holder 102 fitted with the lancet 105, and is not exposed outsidethe puncture needle holder 102 unless a puncture button 302 or the likeprovided on the puncture device 301 is pressed. Thus, it is safe.

FIG. 7 shows disposal of the puncture needle cartridge 101.

After a puncture operation, when an ejection button 303 or the likeprovided on the puncture device 301 is pressed, the used puncture needlecartridge 101 is disposed of as shown in FIG. 7.

Next, a recapping prevention function and operation of the punctureneedle cartridge 101 according to the present invention will bedescribed.

The term “recapping” means attaching the protective cap 103 onceseparated to the lancet body 104 again. Recapping makes it difficult tovisually tell a used puncture needle cartridge from an unused one, andconsequently a used puncture needle cartridge could be attached to thepuncture device 301 again by mistake.

The recapping prevention operation of the puncture needle cartridge 101according to the present invention will be described with reference toFIGS. 8 to 11.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the state where the puncture needlecartridge 101 is about to be recapped with the protective cap 103, FIG.9 is a side view showing the state where the puncture needle cartridge101 is about to be recapped with the protective cap 103, FIG. 10 is anenlarged view of principal parts of the protective cap 103, and FIG. 11is an enlarged view of an end of the puncture needle holder 102.

FIG. 8 shows action that a used puncture needle cartridge 101 removedfrom the puncture device 301 is about to be recapped with the protectivecap 103 once separated.

The protective cap 103 comprises the raised walls 203, which comprisesthe inclined portions 203 a installed in tip portions and inclinedinward (toward the center). The inclined portions 203 a of the raisedwalls 203 are inclined inward, and the space (see size b) between thetip portions of the inclined portions 203 a is smaller than the outsidediameter size (see size a) of the puncture needle holder as shown inFIG. 9.

With this configuration, if there is an attempt to recap the usedpuncture needle cartridge 101 with the separated protective cap 103, theinclined portions 203 a of the raised walls 203 engage with the punctureneedle holder 102 by entering inside the end of the puncture needleholder 102, restraining the used puncture needle cartridge 101 frommoving further inward in the puncture needle holder 102 and therebypreventing recapping.

Also, as shown in FIG. 10, a groove 401 is provided in a boundaryportion between the raised wall 203 and the inclined portion 203 a. Thegroove 401 makes it easier for the inclined portion 203 a to inclineinward when a force is applied in a direction of the axis.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 10, the interior angle formed by theraised wall 203 and inclined portion 203 a is larger than 90 degrees andsmaller than 180 degrees. The wall thickness of the inclined portion 203a is not larger than the wall thickness of the raised wall 203 anddecreases toward the tip.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 11, a projection 402 for guiding purposesis provided on a tip surface of the puncture needle holder 102 toprevent the inclined portions 203 a of the raised walls 203 fromclimbing over outer periphery of the puncture needle holder 102.Incidentally, the inner circumferential face of the guiding projection402 may be tapered.

This allows the inclined portions 203 a of the raised walls 203 providedon the protective cap 103 to enter inside the puncture needle holder 102more reliably, improving the reliability of recapping prevention.

As described above in detail, according to the present embodiment, thepuncture needle cartridge 101 comprises the puncture needle holder 102,configured to be cylindrical, placed on the outer circumferentialsurface of the lancet body 104 so as to allow the lancet body 104 tomove in the axial direction of the puncture needle 201, and providedwith the opening 102 a through which the puncture needle 201 is allowedto protrude; and the protective cap 103 adapted to cover and protect theopening 102 a and configured to be separable from the puncture needleholder 102. The protective cap 103 comprises the base 103 a adapted tocover the opening 102 a when the protective cap 103 is joined to thepuncture needle holder 102 and the pair of raised walls 203 whichprotrude from the base 103 a toward the puncture needle holder 102 andwhose tip portions are placed facing each other. The inclined portions203 a located at the tips of the raised walls 203 and inclined inwardpinch the puncture needle holder 102 when the protective cap 103 isjoined to the puncture needle holder 102, and when the protective cap103 is separated from the puncture needle holder 102, the space betweenthe tip portions of the inclined portions 203 a becomes smaller than theoutside diameter of the puncture needle holder 102. That is, theinclined portions 203 a of the raised walls 203 are inclined inward, andthe space (see size b) between the tips of the inclined portions 203 ais smaller than the outside diameter size (see size a) of the punctureneedle holder as shown in FIG. 9.

With this configuration, if there is an attempt to recap the punctureneedle cartridge 101 with the protective cap 103, the inclined portions203 a engage with the puncture needle holder 102 by entering inside thetip portion of the puncture needle holder 102, preventing recapping.Since this configuration reliably prevents a patient from recapping thepuncture needle cartridge 101 with the protective cap 103 afterpuncturing, it is possible to determine at a glance whether the punctureneedle cartridge 101 is a used item or an unused item based on whetherthe puncture needle cartridge 101 is capped or not. This prevents a usedneedle from being reused by mistake and thereby prevents a danger ofinfection accidents.

(Second Embodiment)

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of apuncture needle cartridge according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention. In the description of the second embodiment, the samecomponents as those in the first embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denotedby the same reference numerals as the corresponding components in thefirst embodiment, and redundant description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 12, a puncture needle cartridge 501 comprises a puncture needleholder 102 cylindrical in shape and a lancet 505 equipped with aprotective cap 503 adapted to protect a puncture needle installed on oneend.

The lancet 505 comprises a lancet body 104 and the protective cap 503adapted to cover a puncture needle in the lancet body 104. The lancet505 is housed in a bore 106 of the cylindrical puncture needle holder102.

The lancet body 104 and protective cap 503 are integrally formed of anelastic material such as polyethylene or other resin, and a tear-offportion 603 (see FIG. 13 described later) is provided therebetween toallow the protective cap 503 to be separated from the lancet body 104.The protective cap 503 comprises two raised walls 504, each of which isprovided with a boss 506 inclined inward to prevent recapping.

Also, the puncture needle holder 102 is provided with through-holes 507to allow passage of the bosses 506.

According to the second embodiment, the raised walls 504 of theprotective cap 503 are linked to the lancet body 104 via the two bosses506. Roles of the two bosses 506 are to prevent recapping and assistresin inflow during molding of the lancet 505.

FIG. 13 is an external perspective view of the lancet 505 alone beforeseparation of the protective cap 503 and FIG. 14 is an externalperspective view showing the state where the protective cap 503 has beenseparated from the lancet body 104. Incidentally, a gate 602 whichserves as an input port for resin from a molding machine during moldingof the lancet 505 is also shown in FIG. 13.

As shown in FIG. 13, to prevent recapping with the protective cap 503,diameter of a shaft 601 covering the puncture needle on the side of theprotective cap 503 is designed to be smaller than diameter of the lancetbody 104.

Position of the gate 602 during molding of the lancet is as shown inFIG. 13. During molding of the lancet, resin is inputted from themolding machine (not shown) via the gate 602.

When the diameter of the shaft 601 is reduced, that resin flow duringmolding will be impaired, which might result in defective molding (suchas a short shot) of the lancet body 104. For the purpose of compensatingfor this, the raised walls 504 and lancet body 104 are linked togethervia the bosses 506 to secure a flow path for the resin during molding.Again, the tear-off portion 603 is provided between the lancet body 104and the bosses 506 to allow the protective cap 503 to be twisted off atthe tear-off portion 603.

FIG. 14 shows the protective cap 503 and lancet body 104 separated fromeach other at the tear-off portion 603.

The two bosses 506 provided on the protective cap 503 are separatedtogether with the protective cap 503 at the tear-off portion 603.

Although two bosses 506 are provided in the second embodiment, thenumber of bosses 506 is not limited to two, and may be one or more thantwo. However, from the standpoint of recapping prevention effect, two ormore is preferable.

Next, a recapping prevention operation of the puncture needle cartridge501 will be described.

FIGS. 15 and 16 are diagrams illustrating a recapping preventionoperation of the puncture needle cartridge 501, where FIG. 15 shows thepuncture needle cartridge 501 with the protective cap 503 separated fromthe lancet body 104 and FIG. 16 shows the puncture needle cartridge 501about to be recapped with the protective cap 503.

The lancet 505 incorporated in the puncture needle holder 102 (see FIG.12) is attached to the puncture device 301 shown in FIG. 5.

When the protective cap 503 is twisted off, the tear-off portion 603with three tear-off points is torn, separating the protective cap 503 atthe tear-off portion 603 on the shaft 601 and causing the two bosses 506to come off the through-holes 507 in the puncture needle holder 102 andthereby separate from the tear-off portion 603, as in the case of thefirst embodiment (see FIGS. 6 and 15).

Consequently, part of the puncture needle 201 (see FIG. 2) which hasbeen covered by the protective cap 503 is exposed from the lancet body104, allowing the puncture device 301 to puncture the skin.

In this case, although exposed from the lancet body 104 of the lancet505, the puncture needle 201 is kept behind an end of the punctureneedle holder 102 fitted with the lancet 505, and is not exposed outsidethe puncture needle holder 102 unless the puncture button 302 or thelike provided on the puncture device 301 is pressed.

Let's assume that someone is about to recap the puncture needlecartridge 501 with the protective cap 503 after the puncture needlecartridge 501 is removed from the puncture device 301 and disposed of.

Even if someone attempts to put back the protective cap 503, it isdifficult to stick the puncture needle 201 (see FIGS. 2 and 16) into theshaft 601, which has a small diameter. This makes it difficult tofixedly hold the protective cap 503 and thereby making recappingdifficult. Furthermore, the two bosses 506, which are inclined inward inthe direction of the shaft 601, are engaged with the opening 102 a orcross slot 208 (see FIG. 4) of the puncture needle holder 102 and areunable to move further into the puncture needle holder 102, making itdifficult to return the bosses 506 to the through-holes 507 of thepuncture needle holder 102. For the two reasons just mentioned, thebosses 506 installed on the protective cap 503 engage with the punctureneedle holder 102 without coordination. This prevents recapping.

In this way, in the puncture needle cartridge 501 according to thesecond embodiment, the protective cap 503 comprises the bosses 506formed on an end portion of the raised walls 504 and the puncture needleholder 102 comprises the through-holes 507 adapted to allow passage ofthe bosses 506. With this configuration, if there is an attempt to recapthe puncture needle cartridge 501 with the protective cap 503, thebosses 506 engage with an end portion of the puncture needle holder 102without coordination and thereby prevent recapping. In addition, if thebosses 506 are pulled out of the through-holes 507 of the punctureneedle holder 102 once, it is a fairly difficult task to put the bosses506 back into the through-holes 507 of the puncture needle holder 102.This makes it possible to reliably prevent a patient from recapping thepuncture needle cartridge 501 with the protective cap 503 afterpuncturing, making it possible to prevent the puncture needle cartridgecontaining a used needle from being reused by mistake and therebyprevents a danger of infection accidents, as in the case of the firstembodiment.

(Third Embodiment)

FIGS. 17 to 19 are partially cutaway perspective views showing apuncture needle cartridge according to a third embodiment of the presentinvention, where FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a lancet 705 before aprotective cap 703 is separated, and FIGS. 18 and 19 are perspectiveviews showing the state where the protective cap 703 has been separated.In the description of the third embodiment, the same components as thosein the first embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the samereference numerals as the corresponding components in the firstembodiment, and redundant description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 17, a puncture needle cartridge 701 comprises apuncture needle holder 702 cylindrical in shape and the lancet 705equipped with the protective cap 703 adapted to protect a punctureneedle 201 (see FIG. 18) installed on one end.

The lancet 705 comprises a lancet body 104 and the protective cap 703adapted to cover the puncture needle 201 (see FIG. 18) in the lancetbody 104. The lancet 705 is housed in a bore 106 of the cylindricalpuncture needle holder 702.

The puncture needle holder 702 is placed on an outer circumferentialsurface of the lancet body 104 so as to allow the lancet body 104 tomove in an axial direction of the puncture needle 201 and provided withan opening 702 a through which the puncture needle 201 is allowed toprotrude.

The protective cap 703 is adapted to cover and protect the opening 702 ain the puncture needle holder 702 and configured to be separable fromthe puncture needle holder 702.

The protective cap 703 comprises a base 703 a adapted to cover theopening 702 a when the protective cap 703 is joined, and raised walls703 b which protrude from the base 703 a toward the puncture needleholder 702 by being placed facing each other. Also, the protective cap703 comprises a shaft 711 protruding from the base 703 a toward theopening 702 a, and a pair of arms 712 mounted on the shaft 711 andadapted to abut an inner circumferential surface of the opening 702 a inthe puncture needle holder 702 by spreading in the opening 702 a.

The arms 712 are claw portions mounted on the shaft 711 and made of anelastic material. Space between tips of the arms is larger than theinside diameter of the opening 702 a in the puncture needle holder 702,and is reduced by elastic deformation when the tips of the arms arehoused in the opening 702 a.

Next, a recapping prevention operation of the puncture needle cartridge701 will be described.

FIGS. 18 and 19 are diagrams illustrating a recapping preventionoperation of the puncture needle cartridge 701, where FIG. 18 shows thepuncture needle cartridge 701 with the protective cap 703 separated, andFIG. 19 shows the puncture needle cartridge 701 about to be recappedwith the protective cap 703.

As shown in FIG. 17, the lancet 705 incorporated into the punctureneedle holder 702 is attached to the puncture device 301 shown in FIG.5.

As shown in FIG. 18, when the protective cap 703 is twisted off, thetear-off portion 202 is torn, separating the protective cap 703 from theshaft 711.

Consequently, part of the puncture needle 201 which has been covered bythe protective cap 703 is exposed from the lancet body 104, allowing thepuncture device 301 (see FIG. 5) to puncture the skin.

As shown in FIG. 19, if there is an attempt to recap the puncture needlecartridge 701 with the protective cap 703, since the arms 712 mounted onthe shaft 711 and made of an elastic material have been widened in theouter circumferential direction of the shaft 711, the spread tips of thearms 712 abut the opening 702 a in the puncture needle holder 702,keeping the arms 712 from moving further into the puncture needle holder702 and thereby making recapping difficult. This prevents recapping.

According to the present embodiment, the arms 712 are mounted on theshaft 711 protruding from the base 703 a of the protective cap 703toward the opening 702 a in the puncture needle holder 702. Thus, thepresent embodiment further provides the following advantages. (1) Thearms 712, whose stroke resulting from elastic deformation is restrainedby the shaft 711, are hard to deform elastically and thus effectivelyprevent recapping. (2) Also, the arms 712 can be installed in anydesired locations on the shaft 711. For example, the arms 712 can beinstalled in such locations as to be able to reliably abut the opening702 a in the puncture needle holder 702. Also, the present embodimentprovides the advantage of being able to readily increase the spacebetween the tips of the arms 712 compared to an outer dimension of thepuncture needle cartridge 701.

(Fourth Embodiment)

FIGS. 20 to 22 are partially cutaway perspective views showing apuncture needle cartridge according to a fourth embodiment of thepresent invention, where FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a lancet 805before a protective cap 803 is separated, and FIGS. 21 and 22 areperspective views showing the state where the protective cap 803 hasbeen separated. In the description of the fourth embodiment, the samecomponents as those in the first embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denotedby the same reference numerals as the corresponding components in thefirst embodiment, and redundant description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 20, a puncture needle cartridge 801 comprises apuncture needle holder 802 cylindrical in shape and the lancet 805equipped with the protective cap 803 adapted to protect a punctureneedle 201 (see FIG. 21) installed on one end.

The lancet 805 comprises a lancet body 104 and the protective cap 803adapted to cover the puncture needle 201 (see FIG. 21) in the lancetbody 104. The lancet 805 is housed in a bore 106 of the cylindricalpuncture needle holder 802.

The puncture needle holder 802 is placed on an outer circumferentialsurface of the lancet body 104 so as to allow the lancet body 104 tomove in an axial direction of the puncture needle 201 and provided withan opening 802 a through which the puncture needle 201 is allowed toprotrude as well as with a first engaging part 822 formed on an innercircumferential surface of the opening 802 a and adapted to engage witha second engaging part 812 (described later).

The protective cap 803 is adapted to cover and protect the opening 802 aand configured to be separable from the puncture needle holder 802.

The protective cap 803 comprises a base 803 a adapted to cover theopening 802 a when the protective cap 803 is joined, and raised walls803 b which protrude from the base 803 a toward the puncture needleholder 802 by being placed facing each other. Also, the protective cap803 comprises a shaft 811 protruding from the base 803 a toward theopening 802 a, and the second engaging part 812 formed on an outercircumferential surface of the shaft 811 and adapted to engage with thefirst engaging part 822.

The first engaging part 822 and second engaging part 812 separablyengage with each other by elastic deformation in response to an actiontending to separate the protective cap 803 from the lancet body 104 andcomprise jagged surfaces 822 a and 812 a adapted to disable engagementin response to a recapping action tending to attach the protective cap803 to the lancet body 104. The jagged surfaces 822 a and 812 a areshaped like a saw blades in cross section.

Next, a recapping prevention operation of the puncture needle cartridge801 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 20, the lancet 805 incorporated in the puncture needleholder 802 as the puncture needle cartridge 801 is attached to thepuncture device 301 shown in FIG. 5.

As shown in FIG. 21, when the protective cap 803 is twisted off, thetear-off portion 202 is torn, separating the protective cap 803 from theshaft 811.

The protective cap 803 is engaged with the puncture needle holder 802via the first engaging part 822 and second engaging part 812. The firstengaging part 822 and second engaging part 812 comprise the respectivejagged surfaces 822 a and 812 a which can be separated in a removaldirection of the protective cap 803 (direction of an arrow in FIG. 21).In response to an action tending to separate the protective cap 803 fromthe lancet body 104, the first engaging part 822 and second engagingpart 812 elastically deform so as to slide along the respective jaggedsurfaces 822 a and 812 a, causing the protective cap 803 to be removedfrom the puncture needle holder 802.

Consequently, part of the puncture needle 201 which has been covered bythe protective cap 803 is exposed from the lancet body 104, allowing thepuncture device 301 (see FIG. 5) to puncture the skin.

As shown in FIG. 22, if there is an attempt to recap the puncture needlecartridge 801 with the protective cap 803, the second engaging part 812formed on the outer circumferential surface of the shaft 811 and thefirst engaging part 822 formed on the inner circumferential surface ofthe opening 802 a of the puncture needle holder 802 abut each other.However, in response to a recapping action tending to attach theprotective cap 803 to the lancet body 104, the respective jaggedsurfaces 822 a and 812 a of the first engaging part 822 and secondengaging part 812 act as edges (edges perpendicular to the shaft 811)which disable engagement. The abutment between the edges disables theprotective cap 803 from engaging with the puncture needle cartridge 801and thereby prevents recapping.

Incidentally, although in the present embodiment, the first engagingpart 822 and second engaging part 812 comprise the jagged surfaces 822 aand 812 a configured as described above, the jagged surfaces may haveany other geometry. That is, any geometry may be used as long as thefirst engaging part 822 and second engaging part 812 can disableengagement or make engagement difficult. For example, the edges may beoriented at an angle other than 90 degrees with respect to the directionof the shaft 811 instead of edges perpendicular to the shaft 811direction, and the jagged surfaces 822 a and 812 a may be curvedsurfaces.

Although the present invention has been described with reference topreferred embodiments, the description is only illustrative of thepresent invention and is not to be viewed as limiting the scope of thepresent invention.

Although the term “puncture needle cartridge” has been used in the aboveembodiments for the convenience of explanation, needless to say, theterm “puncture device,” “puncture tool,” “puncture apparatus,” or thelike may be used alternatively.

Also, components of the puncture needle cartridge including, forexample, the type of cartridge, number of cartridges, and connectionmethod may be selected as desired.

The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-262981filed in Japan on Oct. 9, 2008 including the description, drawings, andabstract is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The puncture needle cartridge according to the present invention isuseful as a disposable puncture needle cartridge which comprises areplacement puncture needle for a puncture device used to take blood,and a puncture needle holder adapted to movably house the replacementpuncture needle and configured to be replaceable together with thepuncture needle.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A puncture needle cartridge comprising: apuncture needle configured to puncture skin; a lancet body configured tocover and protect part or all of a tip of the puncture needle; acylindrical puncture needle holder disposed on an outer circumferentialsurface of the lancet body so as to enable the lancet body to move in anaxial direction of the puncture needle, and having an opening throughwhich the puncture needle is capable of protruding; and a protective capconfigured to cover and protect the opening and configured to beseparable from the puncture needle holder, wherein the protective capcomprises a base configured to cover the opening when the protective capis joined to the puncture needle holder, a shaft protruding from thebase toward the opening, and arms mounted on the shaft and configured toabut an inner circumferential surface of the opening in the punctureneedle holder by spreading in the opening, and space between tips of thearms is larger than an inside diameter of the opening in the punctureneedle holder, and is reduced by elastic deformation when the arms arehoused in the opening.
 2. The puncture needle cartridge according toclaim 1, wherein the arms are made of an elastic material.
 3. Thepuncture needle cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the arms areinstalled in any desired locations on the shaft.
 4. The puncture needlecartridge according to claim 1, wherein the protective cap and the shaftare connected via tear-off portion so that the protective cap and theshaft are separated when the tear-off portion is torn.
 5. A puncturedevice configured to puncture skin using a needle, the devicecomprising: a puncture button configured to puncture the skin with aneedle, wherein the puncture needle cartridge according to claim 1 isdetachably attached to the puncture device, and the puncture devicepunctures the skin using the attached puncture needle cartridge when thepuncture button is pressed.
 6. The puncture device according to claim 5,further comprising an ejection button configured to dispose of thepuncture needle cartridge.